TALLAHASSEE— Internet café owners’ furtive pleas for a reprieve fell on deaf ears Monday, as a bill that would officially outlaw their businesses passed through the Senate Gaming Committee.

Owners begged committee members to slow the ban bill (SB 1030) and replace it with regulations. But it remained intact and passed unanimously. It would eliminate Internet cafes and adult arcades upon becoming law.

In response to their pleas, Sen. Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, said regulation “is just not where we are at this point.”

Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, who sponsored the legislation, agreed. Thrasher initially proposed a moratorium, but after an investigation into a nonprofit Internet café operator resulted in arrests and racketing charges, he changed the bill. Now his bill would outright ban Internet cafes and adult arcades.

“It’s not about regulation; it’s about a policy decision. … It’s about closing loopholes,” Thrasher said.

Thrasher referenced last week’s brouhaha, where, in addition to arrests and charges, the state’s lieutenant governor Jennifer Carroll resigned because she had done consulting work for Allied Veterans of the World, the nonprofit, which ran the cafes.

Thrasher said the scandal “gave us all pause” and allowed the Legislature to reconsider how they should be treated. And it brought momentum, along with a push from Republican party leadership, for a ban.

“We cannot wait another year,” he said.

Thrasher also said the Senate will be more deliberate than the House on its ban bill. The House bill (HB155) passed through a gaming committee Friday and is likely to get a floor vote this week.

Thrasher said the Senate will put off a floor vote until next week, at least. That will be the legislation’s biggest hurdle likely because last year a ban bill passed the House, but didn’t make it out of the Senate.

A place to socialize

More than 20 testified before the committee Monday — few in favor of the legislation. The owners repeated the argument that “Internet café” is an ambiguous term, broadly defined, which denigrates their establishments. They said their businesses are sweepstakes parlors.

Opponents of the ban bill — primarily owners and employees — said Internet cafes are a place where seniors socialize and form strong relationships with each other and staff. They testified about attending seniors funerals, even, at their request, including them on wedding registries.

Opponents also asked why lawmakers would eliminate thousands of jobs when unemployment is still high (7.8 percent).

Some like Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, empathized with those who would lose their jobs and businesses. But he said the bill should move forward.

“I think we have an obligation to say what is right and what is wrong,” he said.

Lawmakers also countered the bill wasn’t about eliminating seniors’ social hangout or a desire to kill jobs. They said they wanted to properly enforce current law, which would include shutting down illegal gambling establishments, like Internet cafes.

That’s Senate President Don Gaetz’ position.

“The fact that someone socializes in a place where there’s criminal activity does not excuse criminal activity,” the Niceville Republican said.

Gaetz also said the ongoing criminal investigation “strongly suggests” the Internet cafes are illegal.

“I’m very pleased the Senate Gaming Committee took decisive action today to pass legislation to outlaw Internet cafes,” he said.

Gaetz was adamant the Senate will move at a deliberate pace on the bill. He said it will receive at least one more committee hearing before it goes to the floor for a vote.

State Rep. Jimmy Patronis, R-Panama City, is co-sponsoring companion legislation (HB 155) on the House side and was “thrilled” by the committee’s unanimous vote.

Some have said HB155 is moving too fast through the House, receiving only one committee hearing before it goes to the floor.

But Patronis doesn’t feel that way. He said the ban has been debated in the past and been around several years.

“This is just the year that we have enough momentum in the House and Senate to make it happen. I think it’s been fully vetted enough,” he said.

He added, “I totally think it is not moving too fast. … We’re not treading in brand-new water.”

Lawmakers also calmed fears in the committee meeting that their actions would outlaw Chuck E. Cheese’s-style games or claw machines. They gave assurances these games wouldn’t be affected.

Patronis agreed. He said those would be immune to the changes because they are “games of skill” — or mostly skill — rather than “games of chance.”

“When you play skeeball, there’s a certain amount of skill it takes to roll the ball to nail the 50-point hole,” he said.